Thurles Information

Two men who had been jailed for 20 years for aggravated burglary at the home of Mark and Emma Corcoran and their 3 children in Co. Tipperary, have had their jail sentences reduced.

The 2 men who had pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the Corcoran home in Burnchurch, Killenaule in November 2013, and who now have had their sentences reduced are:-
(1) Mr Patrick Gately, aged 28, with an address at Primrose Grove, Darndale, Dublin 17, who had 85 previous convictions, had previously been sentenced to 20 years, with four suspended.
(2) Mr Dean Byrne, aged 22, with an address at Cabra Park, Dublin 17, and who had 120 previous convictions, was also, prior to today’s appeal, given a sentence of 20 years, with four years suspended.

The gang had been found guilty on October 1st, 2015, of breaking into the Corcoran home, armed with a sawn-off shotgun, a handgun and a machete, (Latter a broad bladed implement used in combat, like a short sword). Mr Mark Corcoran had suffered a fractured eye socket and a broken nose, from a blow from one of the raiders guns. This had resulted in him later undergoing four separate surgeries in an effort to reconstruct his face.  The children, who were present in the house at the time of the robbery, were also threatened with death.

This attack, combined with numerous others robberies on those resident in rural Ireland, eventually lead to a meeting of some 2000 unhappy Tipperary people, in the Anner Hotel, in October 2015. The purpose of this meeting; to rebuke the then FineGael /Labour Government over the lack of Garda resources in Co. Tipperary. The meeting in turn led to the setting up by An Garda Síochána of ‘Operation Thor’, sanctioned by government in November 2015.

Today, at the Court of Appeal, both of the above named had their sentences reduced by 2 years with the final four suspended. Both men were among 7 others, namely; Patrick Joyce, aged 21, from Beaumont Hall, Beaumont Woods, Dublin 9; John Joyce, aged 19, from Lentisk Lawn, Donaghmede, Dublin; Michael McDonagh, aged 22, from Tara Lawns, Belcamp Lane, Coolock, Dublin 5; Thomas Flynn, aged19, Moatview Avenue, Coolock, Dublin 5, and Donal O’Hara, aged 21, from Glin Park, Coolock, Dublin 5; who had also pleaded guilty to the crime.

Appeals from the remaining gang members, above named, were dismissed.

Two Thurles brothers have appeared in court charged in relation to the seizure of more than €50,000 worth of tools and equipment, which it is alleged was stolen in the UK.

The men detained today at Dublin Port, after arriving from the UK, were originally questioned at Irishtown Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The industrial tools and equipment, believed destined for the black market, were discovered in two vehicles, one of which was allegedly stolen, at Dublin Port on Saturday evening last.

Mr Jason O’Donoghue, aged 38 years, of Toreen, Bothar na Mona Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and Mr Darren O’Donoghue, aged 29 years, of Croke Gardens, Croke Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, appeared before Judge John Cheatle this morning, at Dublin District Court.

Both men were charged with handling stolen property, while Mr Darren O’Donoghue was also charged with being in possession of false vehicle registration plates, and allowing himself to be carried in a vehicle known to be stolen.

Both men have been granted bail on agreed conditions that; (1) they reside at the addresses supplied and obey a curfew from 10pm to 7am: (2) that Both men must sign on daily at Thurles Garda station; (3) must not associate with each other; (4) must provide a mobile phone number to Thurles Gardaí, enabling themselves to be contacted during the 24 hours of each day.

There was an objection to Legal aid by Gardaí on the basis that each of the accused had access to large sums of cash.  Each man was also ordered to pay a cash surety of €500 and must now appear before Dublin District Court on June 26th.

Investigations are now under way with UK authorities to identify the owners of the property seized at Dublin Port.